For budget-conscious buyers, the Bkool Smart Go is a fun, low-cost smart trainer. This relatively lightweight friction trainer helps you click off the virtual miles more easily and comes with its own software, which is action-packed with courses, workouts, and races that you can jump into.

Its innovative frame design, built around arms that are hinged at the base, accommodates a wide range of wheel sizes (from 26-inch wheels to 29-inch mountain bike models) without any need for adjustment. If you do use a mountain bike, or any bike with knobby tires for that matter (like, say, your ’cross bike), it’s a good idea to swap in a wheel with a smooth tire to avoid wear and tear on the knobby and cut down on the noise.

The Bkool folds in half and takes up minimal real estate when not in use.

Trevor Raab

Bkool Cycling Simulator

Purchasing the Smart Go gives you three months of access to the Bkool Cycling Simulator, which is full of virtual routes, workouts, races, and even a virtual velodrome. After the promotional period expires, you’ll be on the hook for $10 a month if you wish to continue using the Cycling Simulator.

The Smart Go is ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart enabled, and plays well with Zwift, Trainer Road, Kinomap, and of course, the Bkool Cycling Simulator. It also measures your power output for use with those virtual cycling apps.

User Friendly

The Smart Go trainer is easy to set up and operate and doesn’t require assembly out of the box. There’s also no need to adjust the resistance unit’s tension; your body weight presses the tire onto the unit. It also doesn’t require calibration; simply climb aboard and go. The maximum stated resistance is 800 watts, and Bkool claims it simulates slopes up to 8 percent (for comparison, a Wahoo KICKR has up to 2,200 watts of resistance and can simulate slopes up to 20 percent), so for high-octane riders looking to really feel the burn of steep, virtual mountains, this may not be the best trainer. However, just because it maxes out at 8 percent doesn’t mean it will ball up your virtual rides on steeper climbs. When you hit a gradient higher than 8, your speed display in the third-party app will change to virtual speed—which is calculated based on your power output—but the resistance on the trainer won’t change. If you want to go faster up that climb, simply drop into a bigger gear and dig in a bit deeper to bump up your virtual speed. You’ll still get an accurate crack at those digital KOMs, you just won’t have the thigh-busting experience of the huge resistance of really steep hills. While that might be a turnoff for some, others might not miss that extra resistance, as long as speeds and times on climbs remain consistent.

The rider’s weight pushing down on the arms holds the wheel firmly against the roller—no need to use a knob to adjust resistance.

Trevor Raab

Magnetic Resistance

This trainer relies on magnetic resistance, which makes it very quiet (but not completely silent). Changes in resistance while riding are smooth and steady, and the rear wheel stays firmly planted on the roller and isn’t prone to slipping during high-powered efforts. Controlled by the virtual app you pair it with, the Smart Go responds quickly, consistently, and reliably with changes in terrain, and carries momentum in the virtual world in a surprisingly realistic way.

The resistance does max out at 800 watts, but that’s not to say you can’t hit higher numbers on this trainer. It just means that once you top 800 watts, you’ll have to drop into higher gears and get on top of the rpms to keep hitting higher numbers. But since you do start losing resistance over 800 watts, it becomes very hard to sustain anything over 1,000 watts for very long. While we’re talking about power, it’s worth noting that the power measurements coming from the trainer aren’t as precise as those of some of the pricier smart trainers, like the Elite Drivo II. Compared to my SRM trainer, the Bkool reads a little high but still seems to be consistent. That’s not great if you’re trying to do specific, power-based training, but for general enjoyment and riding in a virtual world, it’s not as critical to be precise if you have that consistency. The Smart Go’s power numbers still get you in the ballpark, but for more accurate data you’ll have to shell out a lot more cash.

The Smart Go’s legs slide out for extra stability.

Trevor Raab

Smart Go Family

Bkool also makes the slightly more expensive Smart Pro 2 ($590), which is a little quieter and measures a little more power (up to 1,200 watts).

The Verdict

The Smart Go is a great option if you just want to keep pedaling when weather forces you inside, and experience the fun of cycling in a virtual world. Third-party apps like Zwift and the Sufferfest are great ways to pass the time, and Bkool’s Cycling Simulator software offers plenty of options to keep you distracted from the fact that you’re pedaling indoors and in place. For riders who pay close attention to their metrics and need precision, the Smart Go may not be the best option. But for the money, this is a good, fun trainer for indoor riding.

Bobby LeaTest Editor, BicyclingBobby is part of the Bicycling Test Team and brings with him a life-long love of bikes and almost 30 years of race experience.

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